Environmental Working Group Men's Health Guide

Read New Research On Environmental Exposures That Pose Risks To Men's Health

A new guide from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published on March 18th outlines their latest research on the risks men face from certain environmental exposures.

The EWG is a leading environmental and public health research and advocacy organization best known for their annual "Dirty Dozen" list of foods with the highest pesticide residue.

The new guide includes revelations about chronic conditions such as heart disease, prostate cancer, infertility and skin cancer that link them to exposure to chemicals in water, consumer products, food and UV rays.

Here are some of the guide's most interesting findings:

Skin Cancer:

Men are more likely than women to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The guide reports that between 2006 and 2010, melanoma afflicted 24.6 men in every 100,000, making it the fifth most common cancer among men in the U.S. Furthermore, in 2013 almost twice as many men compared to women died of melanoma. Although there's not much you can do about your family health history when it comes to skin cancer, the guide suggests taking control of risk factors such as: exposure to UV radiation, sunburns and indoor tanning. They suggest using sunscreen, but advise that you not rely on it too much as many do not protect against skin damage caused by UV radiation. If you're outside in the sunshine all day, your best bet is to take some breaks in the shade rather than slathering on the sunscreen and thinking that it makes you impenetrable to the sun's rays.

Infertility:

The guide found that in in roughly 40 percent of infertile couples, "the male partner is either the sole or a contributing cause." The guide listed six surprising household factors that have been linked to infertility: plastic containers; canned food; cell phone radiation; pesticides; chemicals in household dust; and body-care products. The last two probably come as revelations to most. The guide outlines the risk-producing element in each of these factors and how to reduce your exposure to them.

Prostate Cancer:

Similarly, the EWG researchers found evidence in scientific literature of recent decades that linked four surprising factors to prostate cancer, the most common cancer among American men. The four factors are: cadmium in tobacco; pesticides; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in animal fat; and BPA from plastics. Of the three, PCBs are the hardest to avoid as the guide states that although they were banned more than three decades ago, they still persist in the environment, particularly in the fatty tissues of fish. The guides suggests choosing leaner meats and low-fat/fat-free dairy products, which may seem counter-intuitive for those who are increasing their intake of saturated fats following recent findings that they are not as bad for us as once thought. Regardless, the guide suggests balancing your diet with fruits and vegetables can "reduce your exposure to any one dietary source of PCBs."

Heart Disease:

The guide reports that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in American men, accounting for 25 percent of all deaths. They listed five interesting chemical exposures that increase risk of heart disease. The first is fish high in mercury, which comes as a tricky one because as the guide states, many men with, and at risk for, heart disease are encouraged to eat fish because of the omega 3 fatty acids. Their solution is to continue eating fish with healthy fatty acids and low mercury such as wild salmon and farmed trout and avoid seafood with the highest levels of mercury such as shark, swordfish and tuna steaks. The other four factors listed are teflon chemicals; arsenic in rice-based products; arsenic and lead in tap water; and again, BPA from plastics. The guide gives full information on how these chemicals affect us and how to limit exposure to them.

The full guide is available on the Environmental Working Group's website and provides detailed information as to how exposure to certain environmental factors and chemicals increases the risk of numerous health complications and how staying mindful of these risks can keep you living a healthier, longer life: http://www.ewg.org/research/mens-health